Category: Fitness Trends

Historically campus recreation centers were primarily frequented by athletes and exercise enthusiasts. Today, colleges and universities are expanding their offerings to accommodate a larger demographic with a broad array of fitness needs. This article from Athletic Business (Brett Klika, CSCS & Founder of SPIDERfit Kids in conjunction with the American Council on Exercise) explores how creative…

Not Your Parents Intramurals By Kathy Russell, ALSC Architects Not long ago, college recreation programs consisted of intramural sports run by student organizations or teachers in the physical education department. These programs were often housed in a student union building or in the corner of an athletics building. Today colleges and universities are building recreation…

By Kathy Russell, ALSC Architects Today’s colleges and universities are competing for the best talent to join their teams. Facility amenities are one way to gain advantage in securing recruits who are often as young as 18 years old. In a recent article in the Spokesman-Review, Whitworth University Head Football Coach Rod Sandberg summed it…

Can the design of a stadium entice more fans to watch their favorite sports teams and entertainers live? Can a stadium be designed to give the home team a competitive advantage? We think so. McCarthey Athletic Center at Gonzaga University was designed with steep seating risers, making every seat feel closer to the basketball floor…

When recruits tour your facilities, is your brand being portrayed in a way that gives you an edge? Creating a remarkable, well-designed space that represents a College or University’s brand can help gain an advantage and engage a recruit. This article from Athletic Business explores how facilities can be designed so your brand is clear, consistent…

By Kathy Russell, ALSC Googleplex (Google’s global headquarters) has seven fitness facilities on its campus in Mountain View, California. While most businesses aren’t large enough for that many gyms, major corporations such as Staples, Symantec and Verizon Wireless have opened fitness facilities at their headquarters. Smaller companies are also investing in simple workout rooms. What is…

By Robin Pecka, ALSC Architects Anyone living in a place with four seasons is probably familiar with the hashtag #getoutside followed by a picture of someone doing something active outside. If you are a four-seasoner like me, you may feel guilt and shame if it’s a sunny day and you choose to go the gym…

By Kathy Russell, ALSC Architects It took seven seasons of televised American Ninja Warrior competitions before any Americans finally won the popular obstacle course race and took home the grand prize. As each season went by without a winner, the ANW fever grew as the athletic competitors started looking for ways to train harder and…

by Robin Pecka, ALSC Architects Fitness Centers – an adult’s playground. You can take your pick of activities, but it all focuses on one thing – our well being. As humans, there is one thing we are biologically built to need that maximizes our health and happiness and takes “health and wellness” to a whole…

By Debbie Bravo, ALSC Architects While wearable technology is the number one trend for 2016, it has little impact on the built environment – and vice versa; the built environment has little to no effect on the use of wearable technology. The number two and three activities on the 2016 list, however, can be greatly affected by…